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her a moment before speaking。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Almost softly＇ How are ye feelin'。 Chloe？
CHLOE。 Awful head！
HORNBLOWER： Can ye attend a moment？ I've had a note from that
woman。
＇CHLOE sits up。＇
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Reading＇ 〃I have something of the utmost importance
to tell you in regard to your daughter…in…law。 I shall be waiting
to see you at eleven o'clock to…morrow morning。 The matter is so
utterly vital to the happiness of all your family； that I cannot
imagine you will fail to come。〃 Now； what's the meaning of it？ Is
it sheer impudence； or lunacy； or what？
CHLOE。 I don't know。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Not unkindly＇ Chloe； if there's anythingye'd better
tell me。 Forewarned's forearmed。
CHLOE。 There's nothing； unless it's＇With a quick took at him；＇
Unless it's that my father was aa bankrupt。
HORNBLOWER。 Hech！ Many a man's been that。 Ye've never told us
much about your family。
CHLOE。 I wasn't very proud of him。
HORNBLOWER。 Well； ye're not responsible for your father。 If that's
all； it's a relief。 The bitter snobs！ I'll remember it in the
account I've got with them。
CHLOE。 Father； don't say anything to Charlie； it'll only worry him
for nothing。
HORNBLOWER。 No； no； I'll not。 If I went bankrupt； it'd upset
Chearlie； I've not a doubt。 ＇He laugh。 Looking at her shrewdly＇
There's nothing else； before I answer her？
＇CHLOE shakes her head。＇
Ye're sure？
CHLOE。 ＇With an efort＇ She may invent things； of course。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Lost in his feud feeling＇ Ah；！ but there's such a
thing as the laws o' slander。 If they play pranks； I'll have them
up for it。
CHLOE。 ＇Timidly＇ Couldn't you stop this quarrel； father？ You said
it was on my account。 But I don't want to know them。 And they do
love their old home。 I like the girl。 You don't really need to
build just there； do you？ Couldn't you stop it？ Do！
HORNBLOWER。 Stop it？ Now I've bought？ Na； no！ The snobs defied
me； and I'm going to show them。 I hate the lot of them； and I hate
that little Dawker worst of all。
CHLOE。 He's only their agent。
HORNBLOWER。 He's a part of the whole dog…in…the…manger system that
stands in my way。 Ye're a woman； and ye don't understand these
things。 Ye wouldn't believe the struggle I've had to make my money
and get my position。 These county folk talk soft sawder； but to get
anything from them's like gettin' butter out of a dog's mouth。 If
they could drive me out of here by fair means or foul； would they
hesitate a moment？ Not they！ See what they've made me pay； and
look at this letter。 Selfish； mean lot o' hypocrites！
CHLOE。 But they didn't begin the quarrel。
HORNBLOWER。 Not openly； but underneath they didthat's their way。
They began it by thwartin' me here and there and everywhere； just
because I've come into me own a bit later than they did。 I gave 'em
their chance； and they wouldn't take it。 Well； I'll show 'em what a
man like me can do when he sets his mind to it。 I'll not leave much
skin on them。
＇In the intensity of his feeling he has lost sight of her face；
alive with a sort of agony of doubt； whether to plead with him
further； or what to do。 Then； with a swift glance at her
wristwatch； she falls back on the sofa and closes her eyes。＇
It'll give me a power of enjoyment seein' me chimneys go up in front
of their windies。 That was a bonnie thoughtthat last bid o' mine。
He'd got that roused up； I believe； he； never would a' stopped。
＇Looking at her＇ I forgot your head。 Well； well； ye'll be best
tryin' quiet。 ＇The gong sounds。＇ Shall we send ye something in
from dinner？
CHLOE。 No； I'll try to sleep。 Please tell them I don't want to be
disturbed。
HORNBLOWER。 All right。 I'll just answer this note。
＇He sits down at her writing…table。＇
＇CHLOE starts up from the sofa feverishly； looking at her
watch； at the window； at her watch； then softly crosses to the
window and opens it。＇
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Finishing＇ Listen！ ＇He turns round towards the sofa＇
Hallo！ Where are ye？
CHLOE。 ＇At the window＇ It's so hot。
HORNBLOWER。 Here's what I've said：
〃MADAM；You can tell me nothing of my daughter…in…law which
can affect the happiness of my family。 I regard your note as
an impertinence； and I shall not be with you at eleven o'clock
to…morrow morning。
〃Yours truly〃
CHLOE。 ＇With a suffering movement of her head＇ Oh！Well！ ＇The
gong is touched a second time。＇
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Crossing to the door＇ Lie ye down； and get a sleep。
I'll tell them not to disturb ye； and I hope ye'll be all right to…
morrow。 Good…night； Chloe。
CHLOE。 Good…night。 ＇He goes out。＇
＇After a feverish turn or two； CHLOE returns to the open window
and waits there； half screened by the curtains。 The door is
opened inch by inch； and ANNA'S head peers round。 Seeing where
CHLOE is； she slips in and passes behind the screen； Left。
Suddenly CHLOE backs in from the window。＇
CHLOE。 ＇In a low voice＇ Come in。
＇She darts to the door and locks it。＇
＇DAWKER has come in through the window and stands regarding her
with a half smile。＇
DAWKER。 Well； young woman； what do you want of me？
＇In the presence of this man of her own class； there comes a
distinct change in CHLOE'S voice and manner； a sort of frank
commonness； adapted to the man she is dealing with； but she
keeps her voice low。＇
CHLOE。 You're making a mistake； you know。
DAWKER。 ＇With a broad grin＇ No。 I've got a memory for faces。
CHLOE。 I say you are。
DAWKER。 ＇Turning to go＇ If that's all； you needn't have troubled
me to come。
CHLOE。 No。 Don't go！ ＇With a faint smile＇ You are playing a game
with me。 Aren't you ashamed？ What harm have I done you？ Do you
call this cricket？
DAWKER。 No； my girlbusiness。
CHLOE。 ＇Bitterly＇ What have I to do with this quarrel？ I couldn't
help their falling out。
DAWKER。 That's your misfortune。
CHLOE。 ＇Clasping her hands＇ You're a cruel fellow if you can spoil
a woman's life who never did you an ounce of harm。
DAWKER。 So they don't know about you。 That's all right。 Now； look
here； I serve my employer。 But I'm flesh and blood； too； and I
always give as good as I get。 I hate this family of yours。 There's
no name too bad for 'em to call me this last month； and no looks too
black to give me。 I tell you frankly； I hate。
CHLOE。 There's good in them same as in you。
DAWKER。 ＇With a grin＇ There's no good Hornblower but a dead
Hornblower。
CHLOE。 Butbut Im not one。
DAWKER。 You'll be the mother of some； I shouldn't wonder。
CHLOE。 ＇Stretching out her hand…pathetically＇ Oh！ leave me alone；
do！ I'm happy here。 Be a sport！ Be a sport！
DAWKER。 ＇Disconcerted for a second＇ You can't get at me； so don't
try it on。
CHLOE。 I had such a bad time in old days。
＇DAWKER shakes his head； his grin has disappeared and his face
is like wood。＇
CHLOE。 ＇Panting＇ Ah！ do！ You might！ You've been fond of some
woman； I suppose。 Think of her！
DAWKER。 ＇Decisively＇ It won't do； Mrs。 Chloe。 Y